Team Lead, International Research Grants, Research Services

at  The University of Calgary

Description
The International Research Grants Team in the Office of VP Research invites applications for a Team Lead. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.
The Research Services Office (RSO) works with the University of Calgary’s research community to advance the research enterprise. RSO aims to increase sponsored research revenue, reduce financial, reputational and market risk and manage compliance for the university. Within RSO, the External Grants team focuses on assisting and advising researchers applying for project funding from Tri-Council Agencies (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC), other government sources (provincial, federal, and international) and non-profit organizations. With a mandate to provide timely, effective pre-application and post-award services, RSO is accountable to the Vice-President (Research) and operates in a complex and competitive environment serving researchers, Faculties, University leadership, and external sponsors.
As a member of the Grants and Awards Division in RSO, this position reports to the Manager, External Grants. The Team Lead, International Research Grants, is responsible for administering a wide range of complex granting programs from international sponsors, with a special focus on the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 program. Horizon Europe is the European Union’s key funding program for research and innovation with a budget of 96B euros that tackles climate change, helps to achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals, and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. Since Canada became a Horizon Europe associated country, interest in this complex program has increased to a level requiring dedicated support. The Team Lead will assist faculty members in the development and submission of proposals under the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 program. The position also provides in-scope supervision and mentorship, and extra support, to staff who work with faculty applying for other international research grants (e.g., from foreign government and non-profit funding organizations). The position works closely with research grants officers in the External Grants and International Partnerships teams within RSO.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Effectively communicates expert knowledge of Horizon Europe programs, and other relevant international research funding opportunities, to the University community through several communication channels.
• Collaborates closely with the RSO International Partnerships team and Faculty-level colleagues to design, develop, and deliver information sessions and workshops on a range of topics, including the promotion of Horizon Europe funding opportunities, finding an appropriate opportunity, application development, and completing the application forms.
• Understands and clearly translates policies to researchers governing European programs, including indirect costs, open science, gender equality, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in coordination with relevant experts and authorities within the University.
• Maintains close connections with other Canadian universities on evolving Horizon Europe topics of interest and best practices.
• Develops productive relationships with European agencies and Horizon Europe’s national contact points (NCP) in the Government of Canada’s Ministry of Innovation Science and Economic Development.
• Ensures that proposals and grant management arrangements comply with University policies, protect the University from legal liabilities, and conform to the complex criteria and guidelines of the relevant funding agency.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure pre-award research security requirements are met by applicants and the University.
• Develops a range of guidance materials and other tools for researchers, in conjunction with colleagues within RSO, other research support offices, and other Canadian universities, that will improve the quality of applications, facilitate application development, facilitate application and post-award or grant management processes, and ease administrative burden.
• Reviews grant applications at various levels of analysis and criteria, appropriate to the stage of development, providing thoughtful feedback that will improve competitiveness and ensure compliance with relevant policies.
• Engages with external consultants as required, advising RSO management on opportunities to engage consultants to provide expert support with clear benefit to applicants or the University.
• Liaises with legal teams to navigate the agreement process.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure post-award compliance with research security requirements.
• Ensures all research within the University has up-to-date human research ethics, animal care, and biosafety certificates or permits, where applicable.
• Reviews and submits post award documentation to Finance to set up and occasionally amend the project account.
• Liaises with external funding agencies to confirm policies and regulations on behalf of the researcher and to facilitate requests for amendments to awards.
• Advises RSO management on key compliance measures for international funding, as required by funding agency and university policies as well as relevant legislation and regulations, to help ensure that an adequate compliance framework and controls are established for Horizon Europe and other international funding.
• Analyzes competition results with the Manager, External Grants and regularly reports to senior leaders on UCalgary performance as well as the state of support services and infrastructure.
• Works with the External Grants team to improve processes and procedures related to international research funding.
• As file owner for grant records, ensures the Research Management System contains current application and award data related to the portfolio, and that electronic files are kept up to date.
• Under the direction of the Manager, the Team Lead, International Research Grants provides in-scope supervision to team members in their day-to-day work in order to ensure that the team prioritizes effectively, meets deadlines, offers consistent service across individual portfolios, and to foster a cooperative approach to supporting UCalgary researchers applying to international research funding agencies.
• Assists the Manager, External Grants, in developing pre- and post-award processes relevant to the responsibilities of the International Research Grants team.
• Under the direction of the Manager, builds and maintains a team-based culture, ensuring positive interaction with faculty members and staff.
• Supports the Manager in staff recruitment and training, including cross-training of team members supporting applications to and grants from various international research funding agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

• A graduate degree (or undergraduate degree with two additional years of relevant experience) is required, with work experience in research or university administration or policy.
• Solid knowledge of University administration and policies relating to research is required.
• Knowledge of the international research funding environment, including key funding agencies for Canadian universities and current trends and issues in research funding, is required.
• Flexible attitude and ability to adapt to changing workloads and priorities required.
• Ability to provide accurate information professionally, courteously and in a timely manner, respecting appropriate confidentialities, is required.
• Must be a fast learner, able to work independently with appropriate instruction and minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) is required.
• Strong time management and organizational skills are required.
• Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills, including interpersonal skills and sound judgement, are required.
• Demonstrated experience in a research environment, preferably at a large research-intensive university, and in administrative procedures would be considered a strong asset.
• Experience with European research funding programs, especially Horizon Europe, would be considered a strong asset.
• Experience with multi-disciplinary and or multi-institutional research proposals would be considered a strong asset.
• Ability to organize and lead effective workshops and information sessions would be considered a strong asset.
• Experience designing grant development resources or models of support would be considered an asset.
• Experience in people management or mentorship would be considered an asset.
  Application Deadline: October 29, 2024
  We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
  This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
  For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

• Effectively communicates expert knowledge of Horizon Europe programs, and other relevant international research funding opportunities, to the University community through several communication channels.
• Collaborates closely with the RSO International Partnerships team and Faculty-level colleagues to design, develop, and deliver information sessions and workshops on a range of topics, including the promotion of Horizon Europe funding opportunities, finding an appropriate opportunity, application development, and completing the application forms.
• Understands and clearly translates policies to researchers governing European programs, including indirect costs, open science, gender equality, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in coordination with relevant experts and authorities within the University.
• Maintains close connections with other Canadian universities on evolving Horizon Europe topics of interest and best practices.
• Develops productive relationships with European agencies and Horizon Europe’s national contact points (NCP) in the Government of Canada’s Ministry of Innovation Science and Economic Development.
• Ensures that proposals and grant management arrangements comply with University policies, protect the University from legal liabilities, and conform to the complex criteria and guidelines of the relevant funding agency.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure pre-award research security requirements are met by applicants and the University.
• Develops a range of guidance materials and other tools for researchers, in conjunction with colleagues within RSO, other research support offices, and other Canadian universities, that will improve the quality of applications, facilitate application development, facilitate application and post-award or grant management processes, and ease administrative burden.
• Reviews grant applications at various levels of analysis and criteria, appropriate to the stage of development, providing thoughtful feedback that will improve competitiveness and ensure compliance with relevant policies.
• Engages with external consultants as required, advising RSO management on opportunities to engage consultants to provide expert support with clear benefit to applicants or the University.
• Liaises with legal teams to navigate the agreement process.
• Liaises with the RSO Research Security team to ensure post-award compliance with research security requirements.
• Ensures all research within the University has up-to-date human research ethics, animal care, and biosafety certificates or permits, where applicable.
• Reviews and submits post award documentation to Finance to set up and occasionally amend the project account.
• Liaises with external funding agencies to confirm policies and regulations on behalf of the researcher and to facilitate requests for amendments to awards.
• Advises RSO management on key compliance measures for international funding, as required by funding agency and university policies as well as relevant legislation and regulations, to help ensure that an adequate compliance framework and controls are established for Horizon Europe and other international funding.
• Analyzes competition results with the Manager, External Grants and regularly reports to senior leaders on UCalgary performance as well as the state of support services and infrastructure.
• Works with the External Grants team to improve processes and procedures related to international research funding.
• As file owner for grant records, ensures the Research Management System contains current application and award data related to the portfolio, and that electronic files are kept up to date.
• Under the direction of the Manager, the Team Lead, International Research Grants provides in-scope supervision to team members in their day-to-day work in order to ensure that the team prioritizes effectively, meets deadlines, offers consistent service across individual portfolios, and to foster a cooperative approach to supporting UCalgary researchers applying to international research funding agencies.
• Assists the Manager, External Grants, in developing pre- and post-award processes relevant to the responsibilities of the International Research Grants team.
• Under the direction of the Manager, builds and maintains a team-based culture, ensuring positive interaction with faculty members and staff.
• Supports the Manager in staff recruitment and training, including cross-training of team members supporting applications to and grants from various international research funding agencies